Medical Assistance in Dying

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) has been legal in Canada since 2016. Nurse practitioners, physicians, pharmacists, and “persons aiding practitioners” (including nurses) are permitted to help those who have explicitly requested MAID.

Background

MAID became legal in Canada following the royal assent of Bill C-14 on June 16, 2016. The bill created exemptions in the Criminal Code for certain care givers to work with those seeking or receiving MAID. Key issues around MAID still exist, including:

Regulations from the federal health minister, in cooperation with the provinces and territories, on data collection for monitoring and analyzing MAID

An independent review on MAID in reference to advance directives, mature minors and solely psychiatric illnesses